Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Havishamhadnoticed,duringhisinterviewswithher,thatthoughshehadapassionatetemper,andacoarse,insolentmanner,shewasneithersoclevernorsoboldasshemeanttobe;sheseemedsometimestobealmostoverwhelmedbythepositioninwhichshehadplacedherself.Itwasasifshehadnotexpectedtomeetwithsuchopposition.

           “Sheisevidently,”thelawyersaidtoMrs.Errol,“apersonfromthelowerwalksoflife.Sheisuneducatedanduntrainedineverything,andquiteunusedtomeetingpeoplelikeourselvesonanytermsofequality.Shedoesnotknowwhattodo.HervisittotheCastlequitecowedher.Shewasinfuriated,butshewascowed.TheEarlwouldnotreceiveher,butIadvisedhimtogowithmetotheDorincourtArms,wheresheisstaying.Whenshesawhimentertheroom,sheturnedwhite,thoughsheflewintoarageatonce,andthreatenedanddemandedinonebreath.”

           ThefactwasthattheEarlhadstalkedintotheroomandstood,lookinglikeavenerablearistocraticgiant,staringatthewomanfromunderhisbeetlingbrows,andnotcondescendingaword.Hesimplystaredather,takingherinfromheadtofootasifsheweresomerepulsivecuriosity.Helethertalkanddemanduntilshewastired,withouthimselfutteringaword,andthenhesaid:

           “Yousayyouaremyeldestson’swife.Ifthatistrue,andiftheproofyouofferistoomuchforus,thelawisonyourside.Inthatcase,yourboyisLordFauntleroy.Thematterwillbesiftedtothebottom,youmayrestassured.Ifyourclaimsareproved,youwillbeprovidedfor.